Photographic camera.



No. 675,454..y Patented :une 4, |901. J. E. THORNTON.

g PHUTOGRPIHC CAMERA.

[Appumxon ma In. e, 1900.)

(No Model.)

INVENTOR WITNESSES.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. i

JOHN VE. THORNTON, OF MANCHESTER, ENGLAND'.

PH OTOGRAPHlG CAM ERA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters .Patent No. 675,454, dated June 4, 1901.

` Application filed January 8, 1900. Serial No. '720. (No model.)

To LEZ-whom if; may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN EDWARD THORN- TON, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Manchester, in the county of Lancaster, England, (whose postal address is Worsley Mills, Hulme, Manchester, aforesaid,) have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Photographic Cameras, of which the following is aspecilcation.

This invention relatesto an appliance for obtaining and maintaining a light-tight joint between the camera and the sensitive plate, or the carrierfor the same.

Hitherto a light-tight joint has been obtained in some cameras, (notably those of European design,) by a lining or packing of plush or velvet attached to the camera, against which the face of the carrier is tightly pressed or held in grooves. This, however, becomes defective after usage for some time, owing to the pile of the plush becoming flattened or pressed down, without any means to compensate for same. In other cameras, (notably those of American design,) the carrier is pressed into close contact with the face of the camera by springs pressing against the back of the carrier, the objection to this method being that accidental displacement of the springs ina backward direction allows light to get between the camera and carrier, and so fog theplate. This invention is designed to overcome these objections, and consists, essentially, in holdingthe carrier in its correct position in the camera by fixed stops behind the carrier, `and excluding the light by means of a movable or yielding spring-frame that presses against the face of the camera.

It will be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which sumcient of a camerais shown to illustrate the invention.

Figure 1 is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is an elevation looking from back to front of the camera, with frame removed to show thefposition of the actuating-springs. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation. Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional detail. Fig. 5 is a sectional detail, showing a modified form of the spring-actuated frame.

A rectangular movable or sliding frame A is iitted inside a second frame or case B, at-

tached to,or forming part of, the camera-body. The frame A is of any suitable material and cross-section but I prefer to make it of sheet metal of angle form, though it` may be of channel shape, as inrFig. 5. The frame or case B is also of angle shape. Behind the frame Aare placed a number of springs C, `which, are attached to theframe B and tend to actuate or force the frame A outward, to keep it in close contact at every point with a plate or plate-carrier placed against it. The frame A is covered with a layer d of soft pile fabric, such as plush.

As the junction of the frame A with the plate or plate-holder forms an approximately air-tight joint, it is desirable to form air-pas sages, to permitrof the ingress and egress of air consequent upon the opening and closing of the bellows D, such passages being at the same time light-tight. These passages d are formed Hbetween the frame or case B and a third vframe E, which is separated at intervals from the frame B by pieces e, inserted between.` The junction between the two frames B and E toward the inner side is covered by a metallic clip or strip F, giving a tortuousy Vshape to the air-passage d, which opens into the interior of the two frames A and B, (the air passing inward in the direction of the arrows,) and renders it perfectly lightproof. y

The bellows D are attached to the frame E.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a photographic camera the combination, with a xed frame or case, of a movable sliding frame and springs bearing against and actuating the same to form a light-tight joint between the camera and the front face of a plate or plate-carrier, substantially as described. y

2. Alight-excludingframe for cameras comprising in its construction, a fixed frame or case, a spring-actuated frame sliding backward and forward therein, and springs inserted between the two frames and pressing against the face of the carrier, substantially as described and shown.

3. In a photographic camera the combination with a fixed frameeor case, of a springactuated frame sliding therein, springs in- IOO serted'therein, a third fraxile attached Vtogthe my name in the presence of two subscribing case by pieees'inserte'd at intervals Ybetween Witnesses. ,t them to form air-passages and a metallic strip 1 placed to cover the juuetihn of the two frames v J r1 HORNTON' 5 and give a tortuous shape to the air-passages,

Witnesses:

J. OWDEN OBRIEN,

substantiallyas described. A

In witness whereof'have .hereunto signed JOSEPH BATES. 

